The 2027 NFL Draft is shaping up to be highly competitive, featuring top prospects like Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Texas quarterback Arch Manning. Analysts predict a wealth of talent, making teams cautious about trading picks.
Key points
2027 NFL Draft is expected to be highly competitive
Jeremiah Smith is the top prospect on the Big Board
Arch Manning is a leading quarterback in a strong class
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. did not take long to come to the realization after looking at the top-10 prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft.
"That draft is potentially loaded," Kiper said on a teleconference April 16. "You've got a lot of talent in next year's draft. If those guys all play up to the level of their talent – then that is a loaded draft. … Teams will be very reluctant to be parting ways with any pick next year just because on paper it looks like one of the better drafts we've had in a while."
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith is at the top of Sporting News Top 50 Big Board. The Buckeyes' receiver is one spot ahead of Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who was No. 1 on our Big Board last year. Manning is at the top of a loaded quarterback class, and he is one of six Texas players in our Top 50. Notre Dame has five players, including standout cornerback Leonard Moore. Georgia, Ole Miss and Oregon have four players apiece.
Here is a look at the top 50 best players projected to be available in the 2026 NFL Draft, regardless of position, and how high each might be selected based on team needs, position scarcity and other factors.
The top prospects include Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and Texas quarterback Arch Manning, among others.
What makes the 2027 NFL Draft considered loaded?
Analysts believe the draft is loaded due to the high level of talent among the top prospects, which could lead to teams being hesitant to trade their picks.
Where will the 2027 NFL Draft take place?
The 2027 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C.
How many Texas players are in the top 50 for the 2027 NFL Draft?
There are six Texas players ranked in the top 50 for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Related Articles
Soccer·Preview
Arteta: Arsenal ready to 'get job done' and win title after post-Man City recharge
Arteta calls on Arsenal to take charge in title race after loss to City
Sky Sports··1 min read
Soccer·Transfer
Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool’s interest in £21m star – Arne Slot loves him
Fabrizio Romano reveals Liverpool's interest in Denzel Dumfries, who has a £21.7m release clause.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NBA·Recap
James leads Lakers to brink of play-off series win
LeBron James leads Lakers to overtime win, 3-0 playoff series lead!
BBC Sport··1 min read
Cricket·Feature
How Shreyas Iyer’s red-hot form is fueling his rise in India’s T20I leadership scheme
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
NFL Draft prospects 2027: Big board of top 50 players
1. Jeremiah Smith*, WR, Ohio State
Smith (6-3, 233) is the best player in the 2027 NFL Draft. He has a 77.3% catch percentage – 163 catches on 211 targets – the last two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. Is it possible to be a safe pick at No. 1? Smith had 1,243 yards and 12 TDs last season with increased attention from opposing defenses, and perhaps no player has carried a larger presence in college football the last two years at the position. A receiver has not been selected with the No. 1 pick since the New York Jets took Keyshawn Johnson with the No. 1 pick in 1996. Smith will challenge that.
2. Arch Manning*, QB, Texas
Manning (6-4, 219) is back in our top five – and this time the second-year starter will deliver on that help. He averaged 255.9 passing yards with 13 TDs and two interceptions in Texas' last seven regular-season games. The Cheez-It Bowl performance against Michigan – where he totaled 221 passing yards, 155 rushing yards and four TDs – was a reminder that he brings a combination of a deep-ball passing attack and above-average mobility. He needs to clean up mistakes and accuracy in the intermediate passing game – but the patience will pay off for the next Manning quarterback to become a first-round pick.
3. Colin Simmons*, EDGE, Texas
Simmons (6-3, 240) gives the Longhorns a go-to pass rusher in 2026. He led the SEC with 12 sacks last season after compiling 10.5 sacks as a freshman. Simmons had at least one sack in each of Texas' last five games. Simmons ranked 10th in the FBS with 59 pressures, according to PFF, and his win percentage (21.5%) was a touch behind Texas Tech's David Bailey (21.6%). Simmons will build on that in 2026.
4. Dante Moore*, QB, Oregon
Moore (6-3, 206) could have been a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He opted to return to the Ducks, where he had 15 TDs and two interceptions on passes of 20 yards or more last season. The arm talent is there – but he will need to cut down on interceptions in 2026. He had 12 TDs and seven interceptions against top-25 teams in 2025. The fact he stayed in school shows the confidence to maintain his spot in the QB pecking order.
5. Leonard Moore*, CB, Notre Dame
Moore (6-2, 195) put up seven interceptions and 18 pass breakups the last two seasons as an elite cover cornerback for the Irish. He makes game-changing plays – Moore also forced three fumbles in his first two seasons. He is a complete cornerback; part of a Notre Dame defensive backs pipeline that has sent Kyle Hamilton (2022), Benjamin Morrison (2025) and Xavier Watts (2025) to the next level.
Seaton (6-5, 330) was a blue-chip recruit who transferred to LSU after two seasons with Colorado. He allowed two sacks last season, and the combination of size and strength has carried over from his blue-chip high school career. Seaton missed four games because of injuries last season, and he will have to make the adjustment to the SEC with first-year coach Lane Kiffin. It's a talent-rich tackle class – so Seaton will have to live up to those expectations.
7. Cadyen Green, OT, Missouri
Green (6-5, 324) switched to left tackle after playing guard at an All-America level the previous two seasons – one with Missouri and one with Oklahoma. He allowed just two sacks and played – and the versatility to play multiple positions in a year where he could pass off as the top interior lineman is going to make the senior an attractive prospect. He should emerge as an even better left tackle with a year of experience.
8. Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss
Echoles (6-3, 310) had 68 tackles last season – including 39 on run plays – which matched Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald this season. Echoles added five sacks, and is at the top of a strong defensive-tackle class for 2027. Ole Miss lined up Echoles in the backfield on occasion – a nod to that athleticism that will flash at the 2027 NFL Scouting Combine.
9. Dylan Stewart*, EDGE, South Carolina
Stewart (6-5, 245) is a freakish talent off the edge who averages six sacks and 32 quarterback hurries through the last two seasons. Stewart dealt with a back injury last season – and he was limited in spring practice. The upside here is similar to Jadeveon Clowney, a Gamecocks' pass rusher who was the No.1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Stewart can firm this ranking up with a productive junior season.
10. Rasheem Biles, LB, Texas
Biles (6-1, 220) was a high-school teammate of Sonny Styles at Pickerington Central (Ohio) High School and could see a similar rise up draft boards next season. Biles is a converted defensive back who had 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and two interceptions at Pitt last season. He transferred to Texas and will fill a void left by Anthony Hill Jr.
Sayin (6-1, 208) remains one of the most-efficient passers in college football. He had a FBS-best 77% completion percentage in 2025, a stat that overshadows the five-star talent that put up 3,610 yards and 32 TDs as a Heisman Trophy finalist in Year 1 as a starter. Sayin will work with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith – who has an extensive NFL background – in 2026. That means Sayin should be ready to handle the pressure of being a franchise quarterback.
12. Cam Coleman*, WR, Texas
Coleman (6-3, 201) is another Texas transfer to keep an eye on. While most of the focus will go on Jeremiah Smith, Coleman will be in the mix to be a top-10 pick. He had 13 TDs at Auburn the last two seasons. According to PFF.com, Coleman had 13 contested catches and a 59.1% contested catch percentage; numbers that should lead to improved totals with Manning at Texas – especially in the red zone. It seems like a reach now, but it won't be next April.
13. KJ Bolden*, S, Georgia
Bolden (6-0, 195) is the prototype Georgia safety. He had 76 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups. He also had just four missed tackles for the Bulldogs, and he played well in huge SEC games against Ole Miss and Alabama. Bolden is a team leader – and he should test well at the NFL Combine to ensure his spot as the top safety in the 2027 NFL Draft.
14. Ellis Robinson IV*, CB, Georgia
Robinson (6-0, 180) had four interceptions and seven pass breakups in his sophomore season with the Bulldogs. According to PFF, he allowed just 15 receptions on 35 targets. Robinson's interception in the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech displays his tracking ability – not to mention athleticism – with the ball in the air. He was the top cornerback recruit of the 2024 recruiting class.
15. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Chambliss (6-0, 200) could have been a first-round pick this year, but he took advantage of a sixth-year waiver to return to Ole Miss. He's a great decision-maker who had 22 TDs and three interceptions last season, and the ability to make off-script plays stood out in the College Football Playoff semifinal run. Chambliss did not have an interception on 102 pass attempts between 10-19 yards, according to PFF.com. He should be getting more first-round consideration.
CJ Carr
CJ Carr
16. CJ Carr*, QB, Notre Dame
Carr (6-2, 210) is yet another quarterback prospect in the first round. He's ranked among the Heisman Trophy favorites in 2026 – and he had eight TDs and no interceptions on passes of 20 yards or more in his first season as a starter. Carr also is a candidate to return for another season with the Irish. Notre Dame has not had a QB selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since Brady Quinn in 2007. We are tempering our projection for now.
17. Ahmad Hardy*, RB, Missouri
Hardy (5-10, 206) led all returning Power 4 running backs with 1,649 rushing yards in 2025. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry – and that included a FBS-best 4.6 yards after contact. He also had 43 rushes of 10 yards or more – which was four more than Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love last season. Hardy will manage another heavy workload for Missouri in 2026 – and he has the talent to be a first-round back.
18. Trevor Lauck*, OT, Iowa
Lauck (6-5, 310) is yet another elite tackle in this class off an Iowa pipeline that produced three draft picks in Gennings Dunker, Logan Jones and Beau Stephens in 2025. Lauck did not allow a sack in 701 snaps at left tackle last season, and he's a clean run blocker who will be a reliable player for the Hawkeyes in 2026. Indiana's Carter Smith, Texas' Trevor Goosby and Ohio State's Austin Siereveld all could go in this range, too.
19. Chris Peal, CB, Syracuse
Peal (6-1, 200) transferred from Georgia, and he had 47 tackles and seven pass breakups in his first full season as a starter for the Orange. He is a wide corner with shut-down capabilities, and another year of development with Fran Brown at Syracuse should translate into first-round value that stacks up with the other elite corners in this draft.
20. Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
Uiagalelei (6-5, 272) can be a hand-in-the-dirt defensive lineman or a stand-up pass rusher, and he's maintained first-round value with the Ducks. He had six sacks and 35 total pressures in 2025 – which was tied with Stewart. Uiagalelei is a consistent producer who had 10.5 sacks in 2024. He will be a safe first-round value pick in 2027.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
21. Suntarine Perkins, EDGE, Ole Miss
Perkins (6-2, 220) was ranked No. 39 on our Big Board last season. He had 4.5 sacks and 22 quarterback hurries for the Rebels. Perkins has compiled 15 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss in the last two seasons, and he had seven pass breakups. He needs to be more consistent as a senior to work into the top 10 – but the upside is there.
22. A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
Washington (6-3, 330) returned to Oregon for his senior season. He had 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks – and he displayed active hands in passing lanes on the interior pass rush with eight pass breakups. Washington is an excellent run-stopper, too, and this draft isn't quite as deep on defensive tackles. He's paired with Bear Alexander for the Ducks – and both defensive tackles will be selected in the early rounds.
23. Zabien Brown*, CB, Alabama
Brown (6-0, 192) flashed play-making skills in the secondary each of the last two seasons for the Crimson Tide. He had two interception returns for TDs last season and three interceptions as a freshman. He allowed a 54.7% catch percentage when targeted in coverage, according to PFF. Brown was limited in spring practice.
24. Terrance Carter, TE, Texas Tech
Carter (6-2, 245) is a top returning tight end who had 55 receptions on 74 targets – a 74.3% catch percentage. He finished with 624 yards and five TDs – and that included nine catches for 72 yards in the CFP quarterfinal loss to Oregon. He did not get targeted much outside of the short-passing game – which is something to watch in his senior year with the Red Raiders.
25. Zach Lutmer, Iowa
Lutmer (6-0, 205) bypassed the 2026 NFL Draft and is one of the most-unique defensive prospects for next year. He played slot corner, box safety and even logged snaps on the defensive line for the Hawkeyes, and he totaled 71 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions. Lutmer is drawing comparisons to Cooper DeJean – who was a second-round pick in 2024.
